Three stories in the news Wednesday, Nov. 16

Three stories in the news for Tuesday, Nov. 16

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TRUDEAU TO MEET WITH CUBAN ACTIVISTS

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau will meet with activists and university students as they continue their visit to Cuba.Trudeau will speak with students at the University of Havana while his wife is to speak at a panel discussion about gender equity. The Trudeaus arrived in Havana Tuesday and met with Cuban President Raul Castro.

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SERBIA SUPPORTS CANADA ON UN SECURITY COUNCIL

Canada has won the support of Serbia in its bid for a temporary seat on the United Nations Security Council in 2020, even though Canada went to war against it 17 years ago, says the country’s foreign minister. The Security Council campaign is a key pillar of the Trudeau government’s foreign policy and the international politicking is in the early stages. But it is clearly under way. The public endorsement by a European country, albeit a small one, is important. Canada is running in the 2019 election for a two-year term starting the following year.

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IRVINGS, GOVERNMENT SAY BIDDING AROUND NEW WARSHIPS FULLY TRANSPARENT

The federal government and Irving Shipbuilding are brushing aside concerns about potential conflict of interest in the effort to build new warships for the Canadian navy. Irving and British shipbuilder BAE Systems recently announced they have joined to bid on a maintenance contract for the navy’s new Arctic patrol vessels and resupply ships. BAE is also expected to enter its frigate design into a competition being run by Irving and the government to select the warship design to replace the navy’s existing frigates and destroyers. Irving will ultimately build the vessels. Several industry representatives have expressed concern that Irving would give BAE preferential treatment during the design competition because of their existing relationship, but Irving says the process is being done in such a way that all bidders are treated equally.